Ash Imagery is a film photographer based in Philadelphia and Upstate NY. Ash Imagery will photograph weddings and elopements in Philadelphia, Lake Placid, the Adirondacks and around the world. Ash Imagery also offers Boudoir photographer and commercial photography such as lifestyle sessions. Ash Imagery is considered to be a Film Wedding Photographer and a Film Photographer with a unique style and vision. Ash Imagery is owned by Michael Ash Smith, a portrait and lifestyle photographer based in Philadelphia using film as his primary medium.

Dasha + Serge. A Barcelo Puerto Vallarta Wedding.

Dasha walked up to me at some point during the getting ready process and asked:

"You are going to blog about me being sick, aren't you?""Yes, yes I am," I replied.

Let's rewind. At 7am in the hotel lobby while waiting for van to arrive to transport the girls to a ferry, I greeted Dasha with a smile. It was still dark out, her still in pajamas. She was feeling super ill, just hours after we joked at dinner the night before about being sick. Nobody knocked on wood. She felt like shit and there was no way around it.

Back to getting ready. As the hours ticked by I could visibly see her getting better and she handled her situation wonderfully. Maybe it was the anticipation, the excitement, the nervousness, or just the "bug" she caught leaving her system. Regardless, by ceremony time, although not 100% she was looking much better. The gorgeous surroundings could have helped as well. After all, we were on a remote private beach in Mexico only attainable by a ferry. Her close friends were with her, her family, and her fiance as well. While I'm positive she didn't expect being sick, she definitely didn't let it get her down too much. She was marrying the man of her dreams on the Pacific coast of North America while back at home in Philadelphia it was cold and snowing. She couldn't help but be happy, and smile. She also knew that in less than a week, her and Serge would be starting to hike the entire Pacific Coast Trail. Start to finish. Tell me thats not a badass honeymoon!

I always love it when couples plan a wedding experience so close to their personalities, and this was no exception. Everything was just like the two of them and you could tell they were in their element. Just like when they travel, they were dealt some cards they didn't expect and they played the best hand they could ... and it paid off. It was a long, humid, fun, day and I'll know every time they think about it they'll have crazy stories and big smiles.